Benedict College was founded in 1870 in Columbia, South Carolina. It’s original intent, like many HBCUs in the south, was to educated newly emancipated African Americans to become teachers. Now Benedict is a present day STEM powerhouse and the first HBCU to have its environmental engineering program approved by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). Benedict has a wide range of science and engineering degree offerings in chemistry, physics, biology, environmental engineering, environmental health science, and more.
Benedict boasts of its degree offerings, “Benedict offers several high-demand fields of study in STEM, Cyber Security, Mass Communication, Sport Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Biology, and Education.”
The institution celebrated a record breaking class enrollment for fall 2025 with 670 students representing 34 states and five countries! Along with this news, the school announced 3 new degree programs, one being neuroscience. SCBIZ reports, “The neuroscience program at Benedict College will equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the brain and nervous system, preparing them for careers in research, health care, and pharmaceutical industries, the release stated. With a focus on cutting-edge research and practical application, students will have the opportunity to explore the complexities of the human brain and contribute to advancements in the field.”
Benedict is the home of the Tigers! Benedict offers collegiate level sports like basketball, football, Cross Country, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and Track and Field.
Notable Alumni:
Sanford Greene: Famed animator, illustrator, comic book illustrator (Luke Cage, Spiderman: Across The Spiderverse, Bitter Root, Powerman, Iron Fist, Black Panther, and many more)
Kris Burton: Famed Harlem Globetrotter
Annie Greene Nelson: First African American woman in South Carolina to publish a novel.
LeRoy T. Walker: Track and Field Coach and first African American president of the United States Olympic Committee.
